INTERVIEW: Glenda Brown
Glenda Brown swings by again to discuss the recent retirement of former YouTuber Lindsay Ellis.
Long time YouTuber Lindsay Ellis, one of the people responsible for the popularizing of the long form video essay (but don’t hold that against her) has announced her retirement from content creation in a statement on her Patreon. After receiving criticism for a statement she had made regarding the film Raya and the Last Dragon which many perceived as racist, Ellis had spent much of the final year of her career decrying cancel culture. She cited the responses from fans and detractors on Twitter regarding her statements as the primary motivation for her retirement.
Earlier this year, writer Glenda Brown stopped by to discuss the incident and the response to an essay she had written on the subject. She’s hanging out again today to add to the conversation on Ellis’ retirement.
Dylan James Harper: Two things that jumped out at me when reading Ellis’ retirement statement was the way all criticism was presumed to be simultaneously from a place of bad faith, but also angry. Even ignoring the obvious contradiction, what do you make of the tendency from those who hold some place of authority to only view criticism as cynical or hysterical?
Glenda Brown: It's real weird because I remember in the original Mask Off video, she acknowledged that there was legit, good faith criticism from Asian writers that got overshadowed by, to put it nicely, other types of criticism (from people just seeing it as a joke to actual harassment). I can see where she's coming from since I doubt it was easy to discern all the feedback she received, it comes at the consequence of pigeonholing the legit criticism that may have appeared to be mean and harsh in their eyes but actually contained validity if they looked deeper. Not to mention this is a common tactic used to scapegoat POC and queer folk as the irrational "other,” and I think it sets a dangerous precedent.
DJH: The other consistent theme that I’m interested in getting your take on is the evolving concept of the mob. Many have used this phrasing, including recently Hank Green in defense of Ellis. The current definition from Lindsay and others seems to imply that, once someone is facing criticism, any additional criticism is contributing to a mob, but then when and how does someone offer sincere criticism?
GB: I personally don't care for it, and I think it plays into what I was talking about earlier. Again, I understand with the large scope of feedback larger creators receive, that it can look like this large horde of people coming at them. However, like I said earlier, it frames even those who had legitimate criticisms of her as unreasonable animals who are just out to get her. I rarely see that wording applied to the fans of these creators who harass, gaslight, and treat us harshly. It's always aimed at the people who criticize them, fairly or not.
DJH: Lindsay’s voluntary retirement reverberated across the internet with a slew of reactions, with a common reframe among many of her fans as this being an example of “the left” eating itself. Even disregarding the questions of whether Ellis’ is part of “the left” ideologically, or if “the left” even exists as any cohesive movement at this point, do you think there is still value to critiquing people within “the left” to better refine our views and ensure certain marginalized identities aren’t completely ostracized?
GB: I do, but that's a whole issue within itself. It's odd seeing the phrase "left eating itself" becoming regularly used in leftist spaces when it was mostly used by people on the right to criticize us. Honestly I just see it as a way to discredit marginalized groups for stepping out of line. There is a big issue right now of leftists with marginalized identities (POC, LGTBQ, etc.) being pushed out or and disregarded by white leftists, and it's a loaded issue that contains a lot of factors outside of just differing ideologies. For me, leftism is about achieving solidarity with one another- recognizing the interpersonal and external harms of capitalism and working to unlearn and create a better society outside of that. I feel like this "movement" is largely made of people who have yet to do this work in unlearning what our capitalistic, white supremacist society has taught them. This work is difficult but I think it's lead us all to a better place.
DJH: One of the most absurd responses I saw to Lindsey’s retirement message was someone saying that those complaining were “punching down” at her; she played into this as well, lamenting that she’s a target for criticism despite ostensibly “not being wealthy” (at the time of writing the New York Times best selling author has over a million YouTube subscribers on her monetized channel and nearly ten-thousand patrons). Is it fair to say people who hold positions of increased power or influence have the responsibility to endure more scrutiny as a result of the cultural cache they carry?
GB: It's odd to say because, yes, I recognize that she is one person and it's a lot for anyone to receive such scrutiny as a result of gaining fame on the internet. I also understand that she had employees that earned money under her, and may not have much spending money per se. But these factors like wealth (which is clearly evident as you said), a loyal following, credibility gained from the success she's received in her career do have an effect on how she views people who do not have those things, and it creates a bubble. And I think people like me can see the bubble for what it is, and act accordingly, even if Lindsay can't see it.
DJH: Thank you so much for again taking the time to discuss very esoteric internet news. Do you have any final thoughts and where can anyone interested find more of your work?
GB: I'll just say that this whole phenomenon has been a huge learning lesson for me. I knew there was racism and bigotry in leftist spaces and fandom spaces, but it was still eye-opening for me to witness how insidiously it plays out with the way I was treated by certain fans of hers since I wrote my essay. The way I was framed as a harasser or a snowflake while they shook their heads at the toxicity of social media is something that will stay with me for a long time. Granted, I am extremely grateful for the support from the people who heard me out. It was validating to say the least.
I still write on my blogGlen's Lens on Medium and WordPress, and my Twitter is @techncialafro
Again, thank you so much for talking with me!